Pulp molding die



3 Sheets-Sheet l E. L. SHEPARD PULP MOLDING DIE Feb. 12, 1952 Filed May19, 1949 INVENTOR. Erf; esl L. 'e/oard.

V El

I Affe Doo Feb. 12, 1952 E. L. SHEPARD PULP MOLDING DIE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 19, 1949 INVENTOR. Ernest L. Sefara' @Wu-@M Feb- 12, 1952 E. 1SHEPARD 2,585,049

PULP MOLDING DIE Filed May 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fly. 7

INVENTOR. Ern es t `L. She/Gard.

NM @1 @L Hrro HNEY disposed inwardly of the border sub-areas.

Patented Feb. l2, 1952 PULP MOLDING VDIE Ernest L. Shepard, Fairfield,Maine, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Canal National Bank ofPortland and William B. Nulty, Portland, Maine, astrustes ApplicationMay 19, 1949,.Serial'Noo94,180

7 Claims.

1 This invention relates to an open-face pulp molding die-unit for thesuction formation, from a pulp-water` slurry, of molded pulp articlessuch as egg flats or analogous articles.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application S. N.402,478 filed July l5, 1941, now abandoned, andmy application S. N.571,753 filed January 8, 1945, also abandoned.

In the present invention I have provided a pulp molding die-unitembodying a unitary die-plate, the molding area of which is deiined by adiering. A plurality of grooves which open out into the molding areadivide it into a plurality` of border sub-areas located adjacent to thedie-ring and, in addition, a plurality of inner sub-areas Each sub-area,or minor molding area, has a conformation corresponding to the sectionof the article to be molded thereon. A plurality of wire mesh screenhoods each snugly engages the die-plate and a sub-area thereof. Eachhood associated with the inner sub-areas has marginal flanges whichextend into the contiguous grooves defining the rperimeter of the innersub-area, and each hood is frictio'nally locked Within its respectiveperimetric groove. Each hood of the border subareas has marginalflanges, including flanges which are directly adjacent to the die-ring.Such adjacent flanges are frictionally locked to the die-plate, and thenon-adjacent flanges of such hooks extend into contiguous grooves andare frictionally locked therein. By this construction at least thosehoods which are associated with the inner sub-areas may be initiallypositioned or replaced from the face side of the unitary die-plate, andare held in place independently of the die-ring.

According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the hood flangesdirectly adjacent to the die-ring extend between the die-ring and thedie-plate, and are frictionally locked therebetween. With suchconstruction, each of the hoods associated with the inner sub-areas `maybe initially positioned orreplaced from the face side of the unitarydie-plate, and are held in place independently of the die-ring.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the die-plate isprovided with a perimetric groove at the margin of the molding area justinside the inner wall of the die-ring, and the hood flanges directlyadjacent to the diering extend downwardly into said perimetric grooveand are frictionally locked therein. With this construction, all 'of theindividual hoods overV the entire molding area of' the die-plate-may'NLT' oF Fics be initially positioned orrlepledr from the 'f'ce side ofthe unitary die-plate, and are held in place independently of thedie-ring.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of an open-facepulp molding die-unit showinggrooves extendingsubstantially to the die ring, and showing certain ofthe wire mesh screen hoods in position;

2 is a vertical section on line 2'-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectiontaken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1showing certain screen hoods in position with depending. flangesdisposed in grooves in the die-plate and with anoutwardly extendingflangefrictionally held between the die-plate and the die-ring;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line l-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary .plan view of a die-unit showing a modified.rform of groove construction wherein the grooves extend substantially tothe die-ring but wherein portions of the grooves eX- tend under thedie-ring;

Fig'is a fragmentary vertical section taken @n line 6 6 of Fig.5'showing screen hoods with `depending and outwardly extending flanges;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of a die unit showing another form ofconstruction wherein ygrooves in the dieplate extend substantially tothe die ring and intersect a perimetric groove zdisposed just inside theinner wallof the die-ring;

Fig. 8V is a fragmentary vertical sectiononline 8-8;0f,Fig. 7;

Fig; 9 is a fragmentarysectional view showing a modiiication of theinvention wherein` -the perimetri@ groove is formed in part. by theinner'wall ofthe die-ring;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a ycontcured screen hood with aplurality of depending. flanges and with` anoutwardly 'extending ange;

Fig. 1-1'is` a perspective' viewof acontoured screen hood wherein all ofthe ilanges: extend downwardly;

vscreen hoods frictionally lc'clfe'dlin` a groove. by

means of a locking strip; and,

Fig. 14 is a.. fragmentary vertical.'.section'rsimilar to Fig. 13`showing depending kanges of screen-hoods frictionally heldA in positionwithout additional locking means.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive I have disclosed an embodiment of my inventionin which the intersecting grooves extend substantially to the die-ringand wherein the screen hood flanges adjacent to the die-ring extendthereunder and are frictionally held between the die-ring and thedieplate. In this embodiment there is shown a one piece or lunitarydie-plate 2 (Fig. 2) to which is secured by suitable means such asscrews 4, a diering 6. The inner wall 8 of the die-ring denes themolding area I and the edge of the article to be molded thereon. Themolding area I0 is substantially parallelogrammatic, and specificallyrectangular, in shape. Surrounding the molding area I0 on the die-plate2 is the periperal portion I2 and to this peripheral portion I2 thediering 6 is shown as secured. Over its entire molding area I0 thedie-plate 2 is provided with drainage openings I4 leading therethroughfrom said molding area I8. These drainage openings I4 are shown in Fig.2, are shown in part in Fig. 1, and for simplification are omitted fromFigs. 3 and 4.

The unitary die-plate 2 is shown as provided with a set of grooves I6which as shown do not extend all the way through the thickness thereofbut which do open out through the molding area II) of the die-plate.These grooves are shown as spaced apart and substantially parallel withone another and with one pair of inner walls 8a (Fig. 1) of the die-ring6. The grooves I6 are shown as extending substantially to the innerwalls 8b of the die-ring 6.

The die-plate 2 is further provided with a simi- `lar and second set ofgrooves I8 opening out through the molding area I0 of the die-plate. Thegrooves I8 are spaced apart and are substantially parallel with eachother and with the inner walls 8b of the die-ring 6. The grooves I8 ofthe second set extend substantially to the inner walls 8a of thedie-ring. The grooves. I8 cross the grooves I6 of the first set atsubstantially right angles to form a plurality of minor molding areas orsub-areas. Thus there are formed the minor molding areas 20, 22 and 24.

The minor molding areas or border sub-areas (Fig. 1) are contiguous tothe inner wall 8 of the die-ring 6 on two sides and the minor moldingareas 22 are contiguous to the die-ring wall 8 on one side. Together,the minor molding areas 20 and 22 constitute a plurality of bordersubareas located contiguous to the die-ring 6, and each of said bordermolding areas 20 and 22 has at least one side directly adjacent to theinner wall of the die-ring 6. The minor molding areas 24 constitute aplurality of inner sub-areas disposed inwardly of the border sub-areasand each of the inner sub-areas 24 is bounded on all sides by contiguousportions of grooves I6 and I8.

Each of the minor molding areas 20, 22 and 24 has a conformationcorresponding to the section of the article to be molded thereon and tothis end may be provided with individual forming projections 26 (Fig. 2)and pocket forming cavities 28.

There is provided a ne wire mesh hood individual to each sub-moldingarea 20, 22 and 24 and providing the forming surface thereof. Thus ahood 30 is provided for each molding area 20. a hood 32 is provided foreach molding area 22 and a hood 34 is provided for each molding area 24.The total of these hoods 30, 32 and 34 constitute a screen snuglyengaging the die-plate 2 over the molding area II)V thereof and eachhood consti- `tutes the foraminous cover for a minor molding area. Eachhood 30, 32 and 34 is parallelogrammatic, and specifically rectangular,in shape.

The hoods 30 have the outwardly extending ilanges or marginal portions36 which extend beneath the contiguous portion of the die-ring 6 andwhich are shown as frictionally held between the die-ring 6 and theperipheral area I2 of the die-plate 2 by being removably clamped betweensaid die-ring and said peripheral area of the die-plate. The hood 30 hasadditional depending ilanges 38 which extend into grooves I6 and I8 andare frictionally retained therein.

Each of the hoods 32 (Figs. 1, 2 and 10) has an outwardly extendingflange or marginal portion 40 extending beneath the contiguous portionof the die-ring 6 and arranged to be removably clamped between saiddie-ring and the peripheral area I2 of the die-plate, whereby said ange40 may be frctionally held therebetween. The hood 32 has additional anddepending marginal anges 42 which extend into and are frictionally heldWithin, the continguous portions of the grooves I6 and I8 which dene theborder sub-areas with which the hood is associated.

The hoods 34 (Figs. 1, 3 and 11) associated with the inner sub-areas I4have depending flanges 44 at their marginal edges which extend intogrooves I6 and I8 and are retained solely by friction in those portionsof the grooves I6 and I8 which define the sub-area with which the hoodis associated. In other words, each hood 34 is frictionally lockedwithin its respective minor perimetric groove constituted by thecontiguous portions of the grooves I6 and I8.

While the depending flanges of the hoods 30, 32 and 34 may befrictionally locked within the contiguous portions of the grooves I6 andI8 in any suitable manner, it is convenient and preferred to accomplishthis frictional retention by means of locking strips 46 as indicated inFigs. 2, 3 and 4.

From the construction herein above described, it will be noted that anyof the hoods 34 associated with the inner sub-areas 24 may be removedfrom the front of the die and replacement hoods substituted, withoutdisturbing the diering or removing any of the other hoods associatedwith either the inner areas 24 or the border sub-areas 20 or 22.

The unitary die-plate 2 may be associated with a die carrier 4I (Fig. 2)of a pulp moldingr machine by suitable fastening means such as screws 43to provide the drainage chamber 45 which may be connected by a pipe orconduit 4l with suitable means for producing suction during the formingoperation, and alternatively pressure, if desired, in assisting todisplace a formed article from the molding area.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modication of the die constructionshown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, wherein the grooves extendsubstantially to the die-ring but wherein portions of such groovesextend under the die-ring. The unitary die-plate 48 has a peripheralarea 50 to which is attached the die-ring 52 by suitable means such asthe screws 54. The inner wall 56 of the die-ring 54 defines the moldingarea and the edge of the article to be molded. The die-plate' 48 isprovided with drainage openings 58 leading therethrough from the moldingarea. The molding area is divided into minor molding areas 60 by a setof grooves 62 which are spaced parallel to each other and to the innerwalls 56a of the die-ring, and by the grooves 64 which are also spacedparallel to each other and to the inner wall 58a of the diering andwhich, as shown, intersect the grooves 62' 'substantially at, rightangles. The grooves '62 and'f'l 'extendjsubstantially to the inner wall56 ofi'the die-ring 52 and portionsV 62a. and 64a extend under thedie-ring. It will be understood ofcourse that the portions 62a--and-`lisa dov not extend as far as the outer Wall of' the peripheral portion50, in order to prevent lundesired entry of pulp when the die unit issubmerged in a pulp slurry. In Fig. 6 a hood 66 is shown. similar to thehood 32 in Fig. 10, and having depending anges 68 extending into grooves62', depending flange 10 extending into grooves 6.4, and havingoutwardly extending iijange 12 frictionally held between vthe 'die-ring5:11 and the peripheral portion 59 of the die- `vIn Figs. 7 and 8v I'have illustrateda highly advantageous embodiment of my inventionwherein all of the individual hoods lcovering minor molding areas,including those adjacent to the dire-ring, `may be initially positionedor replaced from the face side of the unitary dieplate and wherein everysuch hood is held in place independently of the die-ring. Thus, in

7 and 8 there is shown a unitary die-plate 14 having a peripheralportion 16 and a die ring 18 Vsecured by suitable fastening means,

'such as the screws 80, to said peripheral portion 13. The inner wall 82of the die-ring 18 denes the substantially parallelogrammatic,specifically rectangular, molding varea and the edge of. the article `tobe molded. The die-plate 14 is provided with drainage openings 84leading, therethrough from the molding area. The die-plate isadditionally provided with a peri'- metric groove 86 within the moldingarea and opening out through the molding area of the dieplate 14 justinside the inner wall 82 oi the die-ring. The die-plate 14 is furtherprovided with aset of grooves 88. Grooves 88 are spaced apart andsubstantially parallel with one another and with the inner walls 82a ofthe diering. The grooves 88 extend substantially to the inner Walls 82h'of the die-ring and intersect the perimetric groove 86. In a secondset, grooves 90 are spaced apart, substantially parallel with each otherand with the inner walls B2b of the die-ring. The grooves 98 extendsubstantially to the inner walls 82a of the diering and intersect theperimetric groove 8B. The intersecting grooves 88 and 90 all open outthrough the molding area of the die-platev M. The grooves 38areshown ascrossing the grooves 9i). Iat substantially right angles thereto, andvwith the perixnetric groove 88, form minor molding areas 92 each ofparallelogrammatic, Vspecically rectangular, shape and each definedl bya minor perimetric groove. Each minor perimetric groove isconstituted-by contiguous portions o`f the grooves 88 and 9U, or 86,88'and '99, 'as the case may be.

Vfo'raminous cover for a minor molding'area '92. vEach hood 6| is shownas being parallelogramvmatic, specifically rectangular,iii-'shapeand'has 6. marginal flanges 63 extending Vinto the con-ftiguous grooves defining the perimeter-lof each minor molding area. Eachhood -6I may be f-rictionally locked Within its respective minorperimetric groove in any suitable manner. Conveniently and preferablythis may be accomplished by means of locking keys or strips M65A.v

From the construction-shown inl Figs. 7 land 8 and' describedhereinabove it will beV seen that each of the individual hoods 6l lmay'be 'ini'- tia-lly positioned or replaced from the aceside of theunitary die-plate 14 Without disturbing the die-ring 18 or removing anyof' the other hoods 6|. Furthermore each hood 6I is held in placeindependently of the die-ring 18.

A modiiicationof the perimetrio groove construction vdisclosed in Figs.7 and 8 is -shownfin Fig. 9. Thus, in Fig. 9 there is shown a dieplate61 to which is secured a die-ring V69 by `suitable fastening means suchas the screws-11|. A wire mesh screen hood 1-3 has depending ange 15which extends into the perimetric groove 11. The inner wall of theperimetric groove 11 is dened by the die-plate 61. and the outer Wall ofthe perimetric groove 11- is defined by the inner wall 19 of thedie-ring 1|. The depending iiange 15 is frictionally locked within theperimetric groove 11 by suitable means such as the locking key or strip8|.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated in detail a` preierred manner offrictionally locking depending flanges of hoods in grooves. Thus in Fig.12 lthere is shown a die-plateY 83A having drainage openings 85 andgrooves V81. Hoods 89 which cover minor holding areas have dependinganges 9i extending into the grooves 81, and stopping short of thebottoms of said grooves. Keys 93 are disposed between depending flanges9| and serve frictionally'to lock said depending anges in position. Thekeys 93 are as shown as extending into the bottoms of the grooves 81. InFig. 13 there is shown, in still further enlargement, a fragment oi thedie-plate 81 of Fig. 12, depending flanges 9| of hoods 89, and lockingkey 93.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated an alternative manner of irictionally lockingflanges within a groove,

wherein the depending flanges 95 oi hoods 91 extend into the slot 99 ofdie Il, and arefrictionally locked therein without the aid of addi'-vtional" locking meansl v It'will be understood that variousvalternative forms of construction may be employed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this in'- vention. Thus the die-ring may besecured to the die-plate in any suitable manner, other than'beingsecured to a peripheral portion of the die-plate as illustrated in thedrawings.

It Will be further understood that a single hood may be arranged tocover oneminor mold'- ing area as illustrated herein or maybe arrangedto cover a plurality of minor molding areas.

It will iurtherbe noted that the molding area defined by the die-ringneed not be rectangular or parallelogrammatic as illustrated herein, butmay be of any suitable closed shape, curved or polygonal, regular orirregular. Sets of grooves may be parallel vas shown, or non-parallel,and the grooves may be'straight, as shown, oroi curved or irregularcharacter. Furthermore the minor molding areas may be of any'suitableshape, regular Yor irregular.

It will further be understood that the conformationv of the moldingareamay be suitedtothe purpose atu hand and: may' consist of y"a duplica--tion of like confrmations or may consist of .a variety of differingconformations.

Various other' modications in construction and arrangement may obviouslybe resorted towithout departing from the spirit and scope oi theinvention as deiined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an open face pulp moldingy die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg ats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydieplate having a molding area, a die-ring defining the molding area andthe edge of the article to be molded, said die-plate being provided withdrainage openings leading therethrough from the molding area, saiddie-plate being further provided with a plurality of retaining groovesopen- ,ing out into the molding area, extending substantially to theinner wall of said die-ring, and dividing the molding area into aplurality of border sub-areas locatedadjacent to the die-ring, and, inaddition, a plurality of inner sub-areas disposed inwardly of the bordersub-areas, each sub-area having a conformation corresponding to Ithesection of the article to be molded thereon, a plurality of wire meshscreen hoods each snugly engaging the die-plate over a sub-area thereof,each hood associated with the inner sub-areas having marginal flangesextending into the contiguous grooves defining the perimeter' of theinner sub-area and being rictionally locked within its respectiveperimetric groove, each hood of the border sub-areas having marginalanges including ilanges which are directly adjacent to the die-ring,such adjacent flanges being frictionally locked to the die-plate, thenon-adjacent iianges of such hoods extending into contiguous grooves andbeing frictionally locked therein, whereby at least those hoods whichare associated with the inner sub-areas may be initially positioned orreplaced from the face side of the unitary dieplate, and are held inplace independently of the die-ring.

2. In an open-face pulp molding die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg flats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydieplate having a substantially parallelogrammatic molding area, adie-ring defining the molding area and the edge of the article to bemolded, said vdie-plate being provided with drainage openings leadingtherethrough from the molding area, said die-plate being furtherprovided with two sets of intersecting grooves opening out into themolding area and extending substantially to the inner wall of saiddie-ring, the grooves of one set being spaced apart and substantiallyparallel with one another, the grooves of the other set being spacedapart, substantially parallel with one another, and crossing the groovesof the first set, said grooves dividing the molding area into aplurality of substantially parallelogrammatic border subareas locatedadjacent to the die-ring, and, in addition, a plurality of substantiallyparallelogrammatic inner sub-areas disposed inwardly of the bordersub-areas, each sub-area having a conformation corresponding to thesection of the article to be molded thereon, a plurality of wire meshscreen hoods each parallelogrammatic in shape and snugly engaging thedie-plate over a sub-area thereof, each hood associated with the innersub-areas having marginal flanges extending into the contiguous groovesdeiining the perimeter of the inner sub-area and being frictionallylocked within its respective perimetric groove, each hood of the bordersub-areas having marginal flanges including flanges which are di--rectly adjacent to the'die-ring, said adjacent flanges beingfrictionally locked to the die-plate. the non-adjacent anges of suchhoods extending into contiguous grooves and being frictionally lockedtherein, whereby at least those hoods which, are associated with theinner sub-areas may be initially positioned or replaced from the faceside of the unitary die-plate, and are held in place independently ofthe die-ring.

3. In an open-face pulp molding die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg flats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydieplate having a molding area, a die-ring secured to the die-plate anddefining the molding area and the edge of the article to be molded, saiddieplate being provided with drainage openings leading therethrough fromthe molding area, said dieplate being further provided with a pluralityof retaining grooves opening out into the molding area, extendingsubstantially to the inner wall of said die-ring, and dividing themolding area into a plurality of border sub-areas located adjacent tothe die-ring, and in addition, a plurality of inner sub-areas disposedinwardly of the border sub-areas, each sub-area having a conformationcorresponding to the sections of the article to be molded thereon, aplurality of wire mesh screen hoods each snugly engaging the die-plateover a sub-area thereof, each hood associated with the inner sub-areashaving marginal ianges extending into the contiguous grooves dening theperimeter of the inner sub-area and being frictionally locked within itsrespective perimetric grooveI each hood of the border sub-areas havingmarginal anges including anges which are directly adjacent to thedie-ring, such adjacent flanges extending between the die-ring and thedie-plate and being frictionally locked therebetween, the non-adjacentflanges of such hoods extending into contiguous grooves and beingfrictionally locked therein, whereby each hood associated with the innersub-areas may be initially positioned or replaced from the face side ofthe unitary dieplate, and are held in place independently of thedie-ring.

4. An open-faced die assembly for the production from a pulp-waterslurry, by suction molding, of egg flats or analogous articlescomprising a unitary die plate having a molding area and a peripheralarea surrounding the molding area, a die ring superimposed upon theperipheral area, means for securing the die ring to the peripheral area,a die plate carrier, the die platebeing provided with drainage openingstherethrough leading from the molding area, said die plate being furtherprovided with two sets of retaining grooves opening out into the moldingarea, the grooves of one set being parallel with one another and withopposing inner sides of the die ring and spaced apart from one another`and from said sides'of the die ring, and the grooves of the other setbeing also parallel with one another and the remaining inner sides ofthe die ring and spaced apart as aforesaid, the grooves of one setcrossing at substantially right 'angles the'grooves of the other set,the two sets of grooves dividing the molding area into a plurality ofborder subareas located next adjacent the die ring, and, in addition, aplurality of inner sub-areas disposed inwardly of the border sub-areas,a projection lo cated in each sub-area with a cavity at its upper end, ane wire mesh hood individual to each sub-molding area and providing theforming surface of the same, the hoods associated with the bordersub-areas having marginal portions extending beneath the contiguousportion of the die ring and removably clamped between the same and theperipheral area of the die plate, and other marginal portionsfrictionally retained in the grooves dening the border sub-area withwhich the hood is associated, each of the hoods associated with theinner sub-areas having flanges at their marginal edges retained solelyby friction in the grooves defining the sub-area with which the hood isassociated, whereby each hood associated with the inner sub-areas may bere moved from the front of the die and replacement hoods substitutedwithout disturbing the die ring or removing any of the other hoodsassociated with either the inner sub-areas or the border subareas.

5. In an open-face pulp molding die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg flats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydie-plate having a molding area, a die-ring disposed adjacent to saiddie-plate, the inner wall of said die-ring defining the molding area andthe edge of the article to be molded, said die-plate being provided withdrainage openings leading therethrough from the molding area, saiddieplate being additionally provided with a perimetric groove at themargin of the molding area and opening out through the molding area ofthe die-plate just inside the inner wall of the disring, said moldingarea being divided into a plu- -rality of minor molding areas by spacedgrooves opening out through the molding area of the di'eplate, each suchminor molding area being thus defined by a minor perimetric groove, eachsaid minor molding area having a conformation corresponding to thesection of the article to be molded thereon, a plurality of wire meshscreen hoods snugly engaging the die-plate over a minor molding areathereof, each hood having marginal flanges extending into the contiguousgrooves deiining the perimeter of the minor molding area, each of saidhoods being rictionally locked within its respective perimetric groove,whereby each of the individual hoods may be initially positionedY orreplaced from the face side of the unitary dieplate and is held in placeindependently oi the die-ring.

6. In an open-face pulp molding die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg flats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydieplate having a molding area and a peripheral portion surrounding themolding area, a die-ring secured to the peripheral portion of thedie-plate, the inner wall of said die-ring dening the molding area andthe edge of the article to be molded, said die-plate being provided withdrainage openings leading therethrough from the molding area, saiddie-plate being additionally provided with a perimetric groove withinthe molding area and opening out through the molding area of thedie-plate just inside the inner wall of the die-ring, said die-platebeing further provided with spaced grooves opening out through themolding area of the die-plate and intersecting said perimetric grooveand forming minor molding areas each defined by a minor perimetricgroove, each said minor molding area having a conformation correspondingt the section of the article to be molded thereon, a plurality of wiremesh screen hoods each snugly engaging the dieplate over a minor moldingarea thereof, each hood having marginal flanges extending into thecontiguous grooves dening the perimetric groove of a minor molding area,each of said hoods being frictionally locked within its respectiveperimetric groove, whereby each of the individual hoods may be initiallypositioned or replaced from the face side of the unitary die-plate andis held in place independently of the die-ring.

7. In an open-face pulp molding die-unit for the suction formation ofmolded pulp egg flats or analogous articles, in combination, a unitarydie-plate having a substantially parallelogrammatic molding area and aperipheral portion surrounding the molding area, a die-ring secured tosaid lperipheral portion of the die-plate, the inner wall of saiddie-ring dening the substantially parallelogrammatic molding area andthe edge of the article to be molded, said die-plate being provided withdrainage openings leading therethrough from the molding area, saiddieplate being additionally provided with a perimetric groove within themolding area and opening out through the molding area of the die-platejust inside the inner wall of the die-ring, said die-plate being furtherprovided with two sets of intersecting grooves, the grooves of one setbeing spaced apart and substantially parallel with one another, thegrooves of the other set being spaced apart substantially parallel withone another and crossing the grooves of the rst set to form minormolding areas of parallelogrammatic shape and each defined by a minorperimetric groove, all of said intersecting grooves opening out throughthe molding area of the die-plate, each said minor molding area having aconformation corresponding to the section of the article to be moldedthereon, a plurality of Wire mesh be initially positioned or replacedfrom the face l side of the unitary die-plate and is held in placeindependently of the die-ring.

ERNEST L. SHEPARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

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